365 Nights of Astronomy

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The King of the Planets Rules Over the Night

There are two major astronomical events taking place today. The first, a total solar eclipse, is only visible from a relatively small area of the world but the second, Jupiter at its best and brightest, will be visible to everyone the world over.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is currently at opposition, which means it appears directly opposite the Sun in the sky. This makes it the best time to observe the planet as it rises at sunset, sets at sunrise and is visible throughout the entire night. It’s at it’s brightest for the entire year, is quite unmissable in the evening sky and if you observe the planet through a small telescope, it will also appear at its largest.

But you don’t need a telescope to truly enjoy Jupiter. Binoculars will show a tiny disk and the four largest moons strung out in a line on either side of the planet. If you’re lucky enough to own a small telescope, you won’t be disappointed with the view. Not only will you see the moons, but also the dark stripes across the disk that are actually cloud belts in its atmosphere.

If you’re observing Jupiter early in the evening, make a note of the positions of the moons and then come back a few hours later and see what’s changed. At least one of them (probably innermost Io or maybe Europa) will have moved in its orbit; maybe one will be hidden or maybe you only saw three to begin with and now all four can be seen.

This is what makes Jupiter such an interesting target for amateur astronomers. Don’t miss this opportunity to see it for yourself; it will still be visible in the evening sky for months to come, but this is the best view you’ll get for the whole of the year.

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